Can opening and sealing device



April 15, 1969 G. F. FELD 3,438,542

CAN OPENING AND SEALING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1968 INV ZNIOR GOLDIE F- FELD FIG. 4 5 w ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,438,542 CAN OPENING AND SEALlNG DEVICE Goldie F. Feld, 170 West End Ave., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed June 4, 1968, Ser. No. 734,358 Int. Cl. B6511 43/10 U.S. Cl. 220-54 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination opening and sealing structure for a can which employs the conventional pull ring connected to an end panel of the can, with a scored section on the end panel designed to be removed by actuating the pull ring so as to produce a dispensing opening. A resilient plastic planar plug is connected to the pull ring and freely overlies the end panel so that when the pull ring and scored section are pulled away, the plastic plug comes with them. When the scored section is then broken off the pull ring, the plastic plug, which is formed complementarily to the dispensing opening, can be held by the pull ring still connected thereto, and can be snapped into the dispensing opening so as to seal the can.

This invention relates to containers such as beverage cans and more particularly to a combination opening and sealing structure which can effectively seal a dispensing opening formed in the can so as to preserve the carbonation by plugging said opening.

As is well known, a carbonated beverage will soon become flat after such a can is opened so that subsequent storage in a refrigerator is substantially useless. It is also known to provide a pull ring which is secured to the can top wall and which is used to pull out a scored essentially triangular segment to provide a dispensing opening, thus eliminating the need for a separate can opener.

With the foregoing in mind, I have devised a plug for such a dispensing opening which is combined with the pull ring so that the ring not only serves to produce the dispensing opening, but also is used thereafter in combination with the plastic sealing plug to seal that opening and permit the can to be stored without losing the carbonation of the remaining contents.

My invention will be further understood from the following description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a beverage can, fragmentarily shown, with my combination opening forming and sealing device afiixed thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 but illustrating the sealing of the dispensing opening.

The can is conventional. It is provided with an end panel 11 secured thereto by a seam 12. End panel 11 is formed with score lines 13 designed to produce a dispensing opening when metal ring 14 is manually pulled. This structure is conventional. Thus the end panel 11 is formed with an integral punched boss or rivet 15'. Pull ring 14 has a connection opening which is initially deposited over the boss 15, the boss 15 being then riveted thereover to secure the ring 14 to the end panel 11. Score lines 13 extend to and around, that is slightly past the boss 15. Accordingly, in conventional structures, the boss 15 is pulled out together with the scored segment to provide the dispensing opening.

According to my invention, I provide an essentially triangularly shaped planer plastic sealing plug 16 which is formed complementarily to the triangular dispensing opening. Plug 16 is formed of a soft plastic such as polyethyl- 3,438,542. Patented Apr. 15, 1969 ene or the like. Like ring 14, it is provided with an inner connection opening which is deposited over boss 15 above and thus aligned with the corresponding connection opening of ring 14 before boss 15 is riveted thereover, the narrow end of the substantially triangular plastic plug 16 also extending around or past the boss 15. This results in the structure shown in FIGURE 1 where the plastic plug 16 floats somewhat over scored segment 13, being connected at the center of the top end panel 11 to ring 14.

Plastic plug 16 has an enlarged or thickened peripheral lip 17 which performs the plugging function, the lip being slightly larger than the scored segment 13, which forms the dispensing opening. The purpose thereof is to permit the resilient plastic plug 16 to snap into the dispensing opening and effectively seal it as illustrated in FIGURE 4. It will be noted that lip 17 is on the upper face of plug 16 when on the end panel. This makes it easier to snap into the dispensing opening, unimpeded by the boss 15.

My invention is practiced as follows:

After the pull ring 14 and plastic plug 16 are assembled and secured to the end panel 11 by riveting the boss 15 over both inner aligned connection openings of the ring 14 and plug 16, the can is shipped and sold as usual. Of course, the can 10 will have been previously filled with a carbonated beverage of any conventional kind.

After the ultimate consumer has purchased the can and is ready to drink the contents, he pulls ring 14 as usual, thereby pulling out scored metal segment 13 together with the plastic plug 16, and forming the dispensing opening from which he can drink. However, he will not discard the ring with its attached metal segment as is usual. Instead, he will bend and break off the metal segment 13, this being easily effected where the segment 13 narrows down immediately before the boss 15. This segment 13 is then discarded leaving the ring 14 connected to the plastic plug by means of the torn away riveted boss 15. Accordingly, we now have a two piece plug, i.e., the metal ring 14 and the essentially triangular plastic plug 16 connected thereto.

If a portion of the carbonated beverage is consumed, the user may want to seal the remainder in the can. He then simply presses the complementarily formed plug 16 into the dispensing opening as illustrated in FIGURE 4. The partially filled can may then be stored, as in a refrigerator.

Thereafter, should the user wish to drink again, he will again pull ring 14, but this time only the plastic plug will come away, and the dispensing opening will be then uncovered and available. Of course, it can again be sealed if desired thereafter.

I have thus disclosed a combination can opener and sealer where the conventional metal ring, besides serving its usual function, also forms a part of the sealing structure and makes possible a very simplified combination structure which accompanies the can.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is obvious that numerous changes and omissions therein may be made without departing from its spirit. For example, it might be considered desirable to apply an adhesive, removable film over plastic plug 16 to keep it clean while on the store shelf. In addition, whereas I have illustrated the device as applied to a beverage can, it is applicable to many other types of containers for various products, and not confined to liquids.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a metal container end panel of a combined opening and sealing structure, said end panel having a scored section adapted to be removed so as to form a dispensing opening, said sealing structure comprising a pull member connected to said end wall and adapted to remove said scored section when pulled, and a plastic plug secured to said pull member and normally disposed over said end panel, said plug being formed complementarily to said dispensing opening whereby said pull member may be pulled to form said dispensing opening While pulling away with it and removing said scored section, together with said plug, so that said removed scored section may be broken off from said pull member leaving said pl-ug connected to said pull member and so that said pull member and said plug may be used to removably seal said dispensing opening.

2. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein said pull member and said plug have aligned connection openings, and a portion of said end panel penetrating both of said connection openings and being riveted over said plug to connect said plug to said pull member.

3. The combination according to claim 2 and wherein said pull member is a ring, and said plastic plug is planar and resilient and formed with a peripheral lip which is slightly larger than said dispensing opening so that it may be snapped into said dispensing opening.

4. The combination according to claim 3 and wherein said peripheral lip is on the upper face of said planar plastic plug when said plug is secured in place over said end panel.

5. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein said plastic plug is planar and resilient and of an overall size slightly greater than said dispensing opening so that it may be snapped into and snugly retained Within said dispensing opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,259,265 7/1966 Stuart 220-24 3,281,982 11/1966 Salisbury 22053 XR 3,338,462 8/1967 Reynolds et al 22053 GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 22060, 24 

